Euro 2012

[TheGayTent]

To me a presenter in a tournament with 2 british nations involved should be neutral, most of the commentators are actually pretty balanced. The only pleasure I get from him is the luck on his face when ever we beat England. Thank god he wasnt presenting it in the 90s when we hardly ever did!

[pink_triangle]

You just sound like you have a chip on your shoulder?

[pink_triangle]

Anybody else finding Spain boring to watch?

Yesterday game was one of the worst I watched in these Euro's, there were more fouls then chances at goal

[kaosmark2]

Well that goal was stunning. Germany had looked very comfortable for most of the game up until then, but that was a brilliant move, every player involved and involved well in that.

Hopefully it won't lead to Italy sitting back and playing defensively for the rest of the game, but so far this tournament I don't think they've been particularly guilty of that.

[The Nal]

"Non ci sono neri Italiani"

Edited June 28, 2012 by The Nal

[kaosmark2]

Brilliant goal. All those chances he missed against England, but that's what he can do. Arrogant celebration, but cracking goal.

[pink_triangle]

"what has balotelli ever done". Scored twice as many euro semi final goals as you Mr shearer.

[kaosmark2]

"what has balotelli ever done". Scored twice as many euro semi final goals as you Mr shearer.

[dingbat2]

Well I wasnt expecting this!

[kaosmark2]

I don't think I've ever seen Pig-mounter play so poorly. Usually he dictates the play confidently and calmly, but he's played a lot of stray passes and never had any real control over midfield.

[kaosmark2]

Was a bit delayed, as my connection borked for 10 minutes halfway through the 2nd half, but that was a brilliant game.

Italy definitely deserved it. Pig-mounter's stupid decision not to put it in the box capped off an awful performance from him.

I reckon that might be it for this German team. I think they could end up similar to Portugal's "golden generation", loads of great promise but never delivering. Going by the idea that a European team won't win in South America, their next chance is France 16, by which time Lahm will be 32, Pig-mounter will be 31, Klose will have gone by then. And by that time, most of this team will be so used to missing out, that losing will be part of the mentality.

I hope Italy win, I don't buy into the "Spain are boring" arguments, but I think Italy have been one of the most exciting teams this tournament.

[dingbat2]

Blimey, i didnt predict that. Germany were surprisingly poor for once. Well done Italy, well done Balotelli

Predict Balotelli to get sent off in the final though....

[ste4_20]

I reckon that might be it for this German team. I think they could end up similar to Portugal's "golden generation", loads of great promise but never delivering. Going by the idea that a European team won't win in South America, their next chance is France 16, by which time Lahm will be 32, Pig-mounter will be 31, Klose will have gone by then. And by that time, most of this team will be so used to missing out, that losing will be part of the mentality.

[kaosmark2]

Lahm, Mertesacker, Schweinsteiger and Klose are the only players over 26 in this squad. Even then, Gomez and Neuer are the only 26 year olds.

I don't buy into the losing mentality either. It'll fire them on even more so if anything.

[LondonTom]

Brilliant Game!! I was routing for the germans to nick it back but italy did deserve it really by far the better team on the day, Balotelli's goals were outstanding, the whole play of them before hand was brilliant, they did it against england to.

This means England have been able to get to the final right?

[pink_triangle]

I thought Italy were very good, Balotellii came through when it mattered. I think people forget how young he is, very few people in football history have matched his achievements aged 21.

I think Italy really benefited from all the Juventus players. They know each others game, they are used to winning and also havent had a long champions league season.

As for Germany they have great talent but are at risk of becoming a team of chokers. Particularly the Bayern players are getting used to falling short at club and international level and it could end up effecting them mentally,

Also after criticsm of the dreadful pundits I enjoyed Vialli and Klinsmann. MOTD could be much better with these 2 and they speak better English than Hansen and Shearer.

[strummer77]

Germany finished? Gotze, Ozil etc. are coming through. This team have some steam in them yet. Brave man to write them off I reckon. They'll win something long before we get near.

[kaosmark2]

I thought Italy were very good, Balotellii came through when it mattered. I think people forget how young he is, very few people in football history have matched his achievements aged 21.

I think Italy really benefited from all the Juventus players. They know each others game, they are used to winning and also havent had a long champions league season.

As for Germany they have great talent but are at risk of becoming a team of chokers. Particularly the Bayern players are getting used to falling short at club and international level and it could end up effecting them mentally,

Also after criticsm of the dreadful pundits I enjoyed Vialli and Klinsmann. MOTD could be much better with these 2 and they speak better English than Hansen and Shearer.

[eFestivals]

Blimey. Italy were defo deserved winners.

Italy spending most of a match over the half way line? When did that last happen?

But I don't reckon that was Italy on the pitch. I reckon it was Portugal in masks having another crack at reaching the finals.

[ste4_20]

Huh, I thought a few more were. Isn't Podolski? Quite a few of them have been around for at least 3 if not 4 tournaments now.

I think it can happen, different people react differently to setbacks, but as a team it can certainly affect you. Look at Arsenal throwing away the league cup against Birmingham, collapsing near the end of the season most years. Just as winning can become a habit, so can losing.

[kaosmark2]

Yeah, Podolski is 27, my bad.

As cliched as it is, it's not how German players get brought through. By the time France 16 comes along, most of the squad (as it is now, ignoring the wealth of talent either not in the squad or coming through the youth set up) will be 25-27. Perfect age to kick on for a few years. This is still a very young team.

[G-Stud]

I thought Germany were going to go all the way as well. Oh well, Would like to see Italy do it now.

[eFestivals]

Oh well, Would like to see Italy do it now.

I really hope they don't.

Cos if they do, there'll be no shutting some people up about how England were as good as the team who won it, on the basis of our 10 defenders 'tactic' and the draw with Italy.

[pink_triangle]

I thought Spain would win at the start, have wavered a bit with the Germans but I think Spain will pull it off. I hope Italy take Spain on and there is an early goal. I do fear that the lack of width in both teams could have a negative effect.

I think it will be good to see the 2 giants of goalkeeping from world football in the last 10 years going against each other and think either could be key possibly in penalties.

I think people underestimated Italy, for some reason the players change but they are always extremely hard to beat in the knockout, the time to get rid of them is the groups, if you can't they are a huge threat.

Anyone know what balotelli golden boot odds were at the start, I remember thinking he was worth a punt but not following through.

[kaosmark2]

I really hope they don't.

Cos if they do, there'll be no shutting some people up about how England were as good as the team who won it, on the basis of our 10 defenders 'tactic' and the draw with Italy.